The other day I ran across a website that would help you keep track of your range outings, such as shots fired, cartridges used, etc. For the life of me, I can't find the link, if I do I'll update this post.

It got me to thinking though about how could I use my programming skills to improve the gun owning community. One of my problems in life is that I have a distinct lack of ability to come up with marketable ideas. I can write the ever lovin' heck out of software, but coming up with ideas that would be a hit is a hit or miss thing for me. Basically, I do not have business acumen worth a shit.

So, I'm trying to think of something that would be very useful for the gun owning community that I could provide. I thought of writing a ballistics calculator app, but that's already widely available (See Joe Huffman's Modern Ballistics for a fine example). Also, there are so many things that simply do not lend themselves well to being web enabled. While you're physically at the range, how useful is a webpage?

I've thought about building some sort of searchable database insofar as being able to search for guns based on their features. Finish, barrel length, caliber, rifling, trigger type, years made, etc. This would be a MASSIVE undertaking, but I could see a commercial opportunity for gun stores to be able to use this remotely to be able to to give end users a much easier and much more comprehensive ability to search their wares.

Any ideas for software that would improve your life as a gunnie? Consider this a brainstorming session – no idea is stupid or too far out there. I just need to get ideas going. Doesn't have to be a money maker though.

Have at it!

posted by by Robb Allen @ 3/16/2010 10:44:47 AM

Incoming Fire

Comments

I think a great tool for a gunnie would be a contact directory of gunsmiths, FFLs and Transfers, searchable by zipcode. Something that would allow us to ship and transfer guns to each other in different parts of the country. Heck, that might even get you quite a bit of advertising money, plus it'd be a great tool for somebody trying to buy a rare or specialized piece of equipment, like a 50 BMG. Unfortunately, I don't have one to trade to you, though...

I'm not sure how much value it would offer, because gun shop owners seem reluctant to embrace the 21st century, and even more reluctant to open their businesses up to scrutiny, but real-time linking inventory to a web page would be a great consumer app. If Amazon can do it, so can Bob's Boomsticks.

From a consumer perspective, it would be darn handy to know that Bob's has 4K of WW large pistol primers on hand, a Galco thumbreak hip holster for a CZ-75, or just got in a three of S&W's latest Blastomatic 5000.

One complaint would be that if Bob's listed the price online it would offer Ralph's Revolvers an opportunity to undercut Bob's price by $5. Welcome to the internet age; that's happening now, it's just being done by phone.

The big advantage to Bob and/or Ralph that it would automate their inventory control. Places like Shoot Straight have the cash flow to support buying good software, hole-in-the-wall outfits like Bob's and Ralph's, not so much.

On the idea of a gun range tracking tool. It would be more useful if it tied into a smart phone element.

Imagine, you have a website, which tracks your shots fired, hit/miss rations, hit locations, etc over time or whatever.

But the primary way that data is inputted is via an Android device or an iPhone.

The UI on the device could be something like enter how many shots fired then an image where the user can place where the shots hit on a template of a target (human, animal silhouettes or traditional archery circle).

That UI could also be replicated on the website using images and click detection.

I would love to see some sort of pricing information / bluebook for guns. Take a look at the 'real car prices' sites. There are a few that will show you a bell curve of what people are paying in your area.

The trick of course would be getting the data. Retailers or buyers would have to submit that. I have a few idea on how to make that work.

As long as we're dreaming, a searchable database of used guns available for sale would be fantastic. Here in NJ, tracking down a given antique gun can be pretty rough due to the smallish market, and it's hard to know what's a fair price in our market. If I could plug in "Browning Semi Auto 22" or "Colt model 1903" and find a store that's carrying it, that'd be a godsend. Driving to a shop isn't too much to ask, if I could be sure the trip was worth it.

Bells and whistles could include email alerts when a given model gets listed as available, and tools for tracking and compiling asking and actual sale prices.

The obvious weakness of this plan--and why I consider it reaching--is that it requires regular data from gun shop owners, a variable outside the programmer's control.

For that matter, a user-generated-content website that simply tracked self-reported prices for used and new guns by region would be pretty useful all by itself. Knowing what that Browning 22 is actually going for in my state would be a pretty big boon.

Complications here are the accuracy of the UGC, given the potential complexity of identifying condition and the endless tiny model variations that can make a big difference in price.

I'd like an app to turn my ZuneHD (most would say their iPod Touch / iPhone) into an IPSC-style shot timer. Sound the beep (and flash the screen, as the ZuneHD does not have a speaker), start a timer, listen to the microphone, and display the timer value at the last-detected shot.

How about a user-generated list (and visual map) of public ranges, private ranges (and gun clubs, gun shops, and FFLs? I've found that trying to find these things online is pretty haphazard, and if you'd ever like an exercise in frustration, try looking up "Arms" on your Garmin and see if you can find an actual gun shop and not a residence. Allow users to comment on each of these pushpins, including the ability to challenge the accuracy of a designation.

I want to scan in a target, or photograph it with a cell phone, enter the caliber fired and the distance, and have the computer do stuff for me. Such as:
1) center of the group
2) statistics on variance, # of outliers
3) track improvement or lack thereof over time.
4) track performance of different types of ammo.

Problem with inventory control, is Bob's Boomsticks has to pay someone (or do it themselves, which is rather difficult if they're technically illiterate). I've been designing and maintaining websites for personal, hobby, profit, and small business owners in my area. Most want nothing to do with the website, but have it there in case someone finds it. It's a lot of work and seems like a rather daunting task to most business owners!

I had an app for my Palm Pilot that gave me trajectory for a half dozen common loadings for my rifle. You had to select the caliber, rifle, rate of twist, and barrel length before you loaded the software, so it was specific to one rifle, but it worked well. You put in the distance and the load, and it gave you the holdover in inches- or, if you preferred, in scope clicks.

Good luck finding something that tickles you Robb. Every web app I can think of runs into data issues; either mining it, share cropping it from users or somehow getting "owners" to input it. That share cropping version has some mojo right now but I think it's a rare sustainable case in the long term.

Phone apps (iPhone/Droid) have a lot of promise though as range tools. Syncing data to a website could be the model that works for gunny stuff.

And I think there are a few phone apps for reloaders and for range tracking out there. I remember SayUncle pinging a few when he first got his Droid.

A program that lets you easily enter shot group data and calculate such results as group center, string measure (both from group center and point of aim), group dimensions (horizontal, vertical, size) and standard deviations. An ideal front end for input would let you scan the group then simply point and click to enter shot locations rather than measuring shots and entering the x,y coordinates manually. I shoot a lot of groups for fun and to develop loads and would find this very useful. And I would be willing to pay a reasonable amount get these features. If this was part of a reloading database that was searchable and sort able by all major variables and had features to do ballistic calculations it would be even more useful to me.

A gun tracking DB so that I can input information on all the guns I own (serial numbers, etc), but store the data encrypted in the cloud, using Google Docs or some such. That way the data is private, but if a gun gets stolen or my house burns down I have the info for the police/insurance.

I'm thinking of a three-tier app:
A desktop component with local encrypted storage of data:
1. Inventory of all guns, gun gear and ammo I have (mags, hosters, sights, scopes, mounts, slings, flashlights, bayonettes, spare parts, etc), organized by gun, with ability to either store my own photos or search online and pull photos from Google. The inventory is to be organized by gun, so that if I look at a particular gun in the collection, I can see everything that can be used with it. Naturally, an item that can be used with several guns, needs to appear under each one.
2. Shopping List. A list of guns and gear I plan to buy with ability to search for prices online. Alerts to show that I don't have certain accessories (e.g. enough mags) for some guns with ability to add missing item to shopping list. Same type of alert on running low on ammo.
3. Practice Log. Master list of drills. Practice schedule with ability to set up recurring reminders for drill/gun combination. A log to record/grade drill results. Progress reports on per-gun/per-drill basis.
4. Competition log.
5. Hunting log.

You then enter your desired zero. Then you enter the actual range to the target.

Then the sight calculates and prepares a printable target that you can hang at 25-50 yards... and when dialed in to bullseye, equates to a true zero at 100, 200, whatever yardage desired.

It would need two "bullseyes". The first point is the targeting point for the reticle. The second point is the impact sighter. Dead simple use; go out to the local range with the target and the load you entered in, keep the reticle on point 1, shoot, adjust until the impact is on point 2 with the reticle on point 1. Easy peasy, and outstanding for folks who are limited to a 25/50/100 yard range and want a true 200 yard (or longer) zero.

Something else comes to mind too, but a website it is not... I considered getting a high-speed camera/computer portable setup and offering to video shooters to see *exactly* what they're doing right and wrong, and offering to 'smiths and designers for troubleshooting info. Only trouble is the initial investment is definitely 5 figures, to enter an absolutely unknown market.

I have been playing with the idea of a reloading db for loading recipes.
Initially I was doing it just for myself but it is expandable to multiple users. In addition to the normal stuff like powder+primer+bullet and maybe case I added in things like equipment used to load with with, notes on case length, firearm fired with, shot strings, grouping info for a particular loading instance (vs a general recipe) so that in addition to what is normally in these systems adding info about the results in particular firearms/barrels.

In moving it to a multi user context you would need to add in public/private status and some sort of community voting on wether the recipe was good. Given that these sort of social systems are a bit anarchic when they function a light hand would need to be placed in design the scoring system. (I am using different terms here as I do not want to lock in a particular way of thinking about it)

I have a light rails + active scaffold app doing the non multiuser stuff for the most part. I have not done anything with it in a few months as I got busy at work.

I don't know if it's up your alley, but:
How about a 'game' for the Wii that would let you use it as a serious training tool? Maybe with a concentration on shoot/no shoot scenarios, or in conjunction with a 'light gun' rail addon that'd let you dry-fire your carry gun at targets on your screen...

Gun law trip planner. Input your origin, destination and what carry licenses you have, plus how much extra time you are willing to spend to avoid states where you can't carry at all, or must leave the gun in your car. It should also include critical differences in carry law between states that would likely trip people up, especially the felonies. Ideally it would also suggest nonresident licenses that are available to increase your coverage